Panel frame



Oct. 16, 1962 R. BRYDOLF PANEL FRAME Filed Feb. 8, 1960 C rww Q 5 min. RAx cm w R A VL R K R. BRYDOLF PANEL FRAME Oct. 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8. 1960 M/ Vii/V702 Ross/2r B12 r004 F BY HIS ATTORNEYS HAee/s, MEcH, P055541. 6% K52 United States Patent G 58, 3 PANEL FRAME Robert Brydolf, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Acme Appliance Manufacturing Company, Monrovia, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Feb. 8, 19-60, Ser. No. 7,319 Claims. (Cl. 20-19) The present invention relates in general to a panel frame and, more particularly, to a frame applicable to the edges of a panel to rim and reinforce the panel. The invention may, for example, be utilized to frame wooden or composition panels in the manufacture of sloding doors and the invention will be considered in such connection herein for convenience, although it will be understood that other uses for the invention are possible.

General objects of the invention are to provide a frame which can readily be assembled with a'panel to form a sliding door, or the like, which requires no special tools or equipment for assembly purposes, which can readily be reduced in size by sawing to fit a panel for use in an undersize opening, and the like.

The invention contemplates a rectangular panel frame which includes two vertical stiles and two horizontal rails plus connectors in the corners of the frame and secured to the respective stiles and rails. When the framed panel is utilized as a sliding door, wheeled hangers or hanger members engageable with an overhead track may be connected to the upper end of the frame and guides or guide members engageable with a lower track may be connected to the lower end of the frame. Variations of'this construction are, of course, possible, depending upon the use to be made of the framed panel.

One object of the invention is to provide such a panel frame wherein the corner connectors are located on the rear side of the frame and wherein each corner connector has a vertically adjustable hanger or guide member secured thereto on the rear side thereof, the vertically adjustable member being a hanger member if the corner connector in question is an upper corner connector, and being a guide member if the corner connector in question is a lower corner connector. With this construction, the corner connectors and the hanger and guide members are all concealed behind the framed panel, the vertical adjuste ability of the hanger and guide members permitting proper positioning of the framed panel relative to the overhead and lower tracks in the event of a sliding door installation of the type hereinbefore outlined.

Another object of the invention is to provide stiles and rails having inwardly facing front channels adapted'to receive panel edges therein and having rear channels adapted to receive therein and to have secured thereto anchoring portions of the corner connectors.

A further object is to provide the corner connectors with lugs disposed in the rear rail channels and provided with holes therethrough, portions of the rails being struck into such holes to secure the connectors to the rails.

An additional object is to secure the connector portions which are disposed in the rear stile channels to the stiles by means of screws extending through rear flanges of thestiles. v

Another object is to provide a frame rail wherein the front rail channel faces inwardly to receive a panel edge and wherein the rear rail channel faces outwardly to receive anchoring portions of the corner connectors, thefront and rear rail channels being disposed in side-by-side relation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stile which is generally E-shaped and which provides inwardly facing front and rear stile channels in side-byside relation, the front stile channel being adapted to receive a panel edge and the rear stile channel being 3,053,173 Patented Oct. 16, 1 962 adapted to receive anchoring portions of the corner connectors.

Another object is to provide a generally E-shaped stile having front and intermediate stile flanges defining the front stile channel and having a rear stile flange which cooperates with the intermediate stile flange to define the rear stile channel, the front and intermediate stile flanges converging in a direction from the closed side of the front stile channel toward the open side thereof so that the front and intermediate stile flanges resiliently grip a panel edge inserted thereinto.

Another object is to provide a generally E-shaped stile wherein the' intermediate stil flange has along its free edge a portion or lip which is disposed within the rear stile channel and which is adapted to interlock with corner connector portions disposed in the rear stile channel. A related object is to provide the intermediate stile flange with a lip which is disposed within the rear stile channel and which is inturned toward the closed side of the rear stile channel.

Still another object is to provide a generally E-shaped stile wherein the rear stile flange and the closed side of the rear stile channel are of double thickness and wherein the intermediate stile flange, the closed side of the front stile channel and the front stile flange are all of single thickness. With this construction, the portions of the stile which are in engagement with, and thus reinforced by, a panel. edge are of single thickness, the remaining portions of the stile being of double thickness to provide added strength.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the panel framing art in the light of this disclosure, may be attained with the exemplary embodiment of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

FIG. 1 is an isometric view on a reduced scale showing a sliding door installation which embodies the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a frame corner and hanger member combination of the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 3-3 and 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 55 of FIG. 2 and showing cross section a frame rail of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 6-6 of FIG. 1 and showing in cross section a frame stile of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an isometric View showing the rear side of the frame corner and hanger member combination of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view similar to and showing some of the components shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of a frame corner and guide member combination of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 1010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view showing the rearside of the frame corner and guide member combination of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is an exploded isometric view similar to and showing some of the components shown in FIG. 11.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 2.0 designates a sliding door installed in a doorway 22 for sliding movement along overhead and lower tracks 24 and 26. The sliding door 20 is provided at its upper end with wheels which are rollable along the overhead track 24 and which serve to suspend the door therefrom, one such wheel being shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 7 and 8 and being designated by the numeral 28. Glides, one of which is shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 and is designated by the numeral 30 therein, at the lower end of the sliding door 20 are slidable along the lower track 26 and serve to guide the lower end of the door. The sliding door installation, as thus far described, is conventional.

Considering the sliding door 20 more specifically, it comprises a panel 32 of any suitable material and a frame 34 receiving the edges of the panel to rim and reinforce same. The wheel 28 is carried by a hanger or hanger member 36 which is connected to the upper end of the frame 34, and the glide 30 is carried by a guide or guide member 38 which is connected to the frame at the lower end thereof.

The frame 34 includes upper and lower rails 40 and 42 respectively receiving the upper and lower edges of the panel 32 therein, and includes left and right stiles 44 and 46 respectively receiving the left and right edges of the panel 32 therein. The two rails 40 and 42 are identical, as are the two stiles 44 and 46.

The upper rail 40 and the right stile 46 are interconnected by an upper corner connector 48, FIGS. 2 to 4, 7 and 8, located on the rear side of the frame 34. The lower rail 42 and the right stile 46 are interconnected by a lower corner connector 50, FIGS. 9, l1 and 12, also located on the rear side of the frame 34. The two connectors 48 and 50 are identical, except that each is a mirror image of the other. The upper rail 40 is connected to the left stile 44 by a corner connector, not shown, identical to the corner connector 50. Similarly, the lower rail 42 is connected to the left stile 44 by a corner connector, not shown, identical to the corner connector 48. Thus, the rails 40 and 42 and the stiles 44 and 46 are interconnected at the corners of the frame 34 by four corner connectors two of which are mirror images of the other two. In other words, two of the corner connectors are lefts and the other two are rights.

Considering the upper rail 40 in more detail, it is best shown in FIG. of the drawings and includes front, intermediate and rear rail flanges 52, 54 and 56 which are parallel and spaced apart, the front and intermediate flanges 52 and 54 being interconnected by a web 58 to form a front rail channel 60, and the intermediate and rear flanges 54 and 56 being interconnected by a web 62 to form a rear rail channel 64. The front rail channel 60 faces inwardly and receives the upper edge of the panel 32 therein. The rear rail channel 64 faces outwardly and serves to increase the rigidity of the upper rail 40. The rear rail channel 64 also performs a function which will be described hereinafter. Since the lower rail 42 is identical to the upper rail 40, a detailed description of the lower rail will be unnecessary.

As best shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the right stile 46 is generally E-shaped in cross section and includes front, intermediate and rear stile flanges 66, 68 and 70. The front and intermediate flanges 66 and 68 cooperate to form an inwardly facing, front stile channel 72 which receives therein the right edge of the panel 32 and which is provided with a closed side 74. The front and intermediate flanges 66 and 68 converge from the closed side 74 of the front stile channel 72 toward the open side thereof so that they resiliently grip the right edge of the panel 32 therebetween.

The intermediate flange 68 and the rear flange 70 cooperate to provide therebetween a rear stile channel 76 having a closed side 78. The rear stile channel 76 serves to rigidity the stile 46 and serves another function to be described.

The intermediate flange 68 of the stile 46 is provided along its free edge with a lip or rib 80 which extends away from the front stile channel 72 and which is disposed within the rear stile channel 76 and which is inturned toward the closed side 78 of the rear stile channel. The lip 80 is curved in cross section so as to facilitate insertion of the right edge of the panel 32 into the front stile channel 72. The rib also performs another function which will be described later.

The rear flange 70 of the stile 46 and the closed side 78 of the rear stile channel 76 are of double thickness to provide added rigidity for the stile 46. The intermediate flange 76, the closed side 74 of the front stile channel 72, and the front flange 66 are of single thickness since they are rigidified by the right edge of the panel 32 disposed in the front stile channel 72. The entire stile 46 is shown as formed of a single piece of sheet material bent into the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 6 and providing the double thicknesses for the rear flange 70 and the closed side 78 of the rear stile channel 76.

The left stile 44 is identical to the right stile 46. Consequently, a detailed description of the left stile 44 is not necessary.

Considering the corner connector 48 with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, 7 and 8 of the drawings, it is generally channel shaped in cross section and is positoned vertically with its open side facing forwardly. The corner connector is provided along one edge thereof with a flange 82 which seats against the rear side of the panel 32, and is provided along its opposite edge with a flange 84 which is seated on the rear side of the intermediate flange 68 of the stile 46 and which is also seated against the edge of the inturned lip 80 within the rear stile channel 76. The interengagement between the lip 80 and the flange 84 serve to interlock the corner connector 48 and the stile 46 to properly orient the corner connector 48 relative to the stile 46. The corner connector 48 is secured to the stile 46 and the rail 40 in a manner to be described, thereby maintaining the interlocking engagement between the lip 80 and the flange 84.

Considering the manner in which the corner connector 48 is secured to the stile 46, the corner connector is provided within the rear stile channel 76 with a rearwardly projecting flange 86 terminating in a flange 88 which is seated against the front side of the rear stile flange 70, the flange 88 being parallel to the rear stile flange 70. The flange 88 is provided therethrough with a hole 90 and a sheet metal screw "92 extends through a hole 94 in the rear stile flange 70 and is tapped into the hole 90. The screw 92 serves to secure the corner connector 48 and the stile 46 together and it will be noted that the flange 86 and the flange 88 on the corner connector 48 serve to space the rear stile flange 70 from the intermediate stile flange 68 to brace the rear stile flange 70.

The corner connector 48 is provided at its upper end and at the edge thereof farthest from the stile 46 with a forwardly offset lug 96 which is disposed in the outwardly facing, rear rail channel 64 of the rail 40. The lug 96 is provided therethrough with a hole 98 into which is punched or struck a portion 100 of the rear stile flange 56. This serves to rigidly secure the corner connector 48 to the rail 40, and in a very simple manner, it merely being necessary to strike the portion 100 of the rear rail flange 40 into the hole 98 in the lug 96 with a punch, or the like.

The corner connector 48 is provided intermediate its vertical edges with a relatively wide, vertical rib 102 which projects rearwardly. Fitted over the rib 102 on the rearward side of the corner connector 48 is a forwardly facing, channel shaped portion 104 of the hanger 36, such hanger being vertically movable along the rib 102, which serves as a track therefor. As will be understood, the purpose of making the hanger 36 vertically movable relative to the corner connector 48 is to permit vertical adjustment of the position of the corresponding wheel 28.

In order to secure the hanger 36 in its vertically adjusted position, two vertically spaced screws 106 extend through a vertical slot 108 in the hanger and are threaded into nuts 110 having noncircular, e.g., square, portions 112 disposed in complementary holes 114 in the corner connector 48 to prevent the nuts from rotating when the screws 106 are rotated. The screws 106 are provided under the heads thereof with lock washers 116 engageable with the hanger 36 to prevent the screws from backing ofl once the desired vertical adjustment of the hanger is achieved and the screws are tightened.

The upper rail 40 and the left stile 44 are interconnected by a corner connector, not shown, in identically the same manner as the upper rail 40 and the right stile 46 are interconnected by the corner connector 48. Also, the corner connector used to secure the upper rail 40 and the left stile 44 together carries an identical hanger, not shown, in identically the same manner. Thus, a furthere description'is not necessary.

The lower corner connector 50 interconnects the lower rail 42 and the right stile 46 in identically the same manner as the corner connector 48 interconnects the upper rail 40 and the right stile 46. Also, the guide 38 is mounted on the corner connector 56 in exactly the same manner as the hanger 36 is mounted on the corner connector 48. Consequently the various elements of the lower rail 42, the corner connector 50, the guide 38, the means for securing the corner connector 50 to the lower rail 42 and the stile 46, and the means for securing the guide 38 to the corner connector 50, are all identified by reference numerals higher by one hundred than the reference numerals utilized to identify the corresponding elements of the upper rail 40, the corner connector 48, the hanger 36, the means to secure the corner connector 48 to the upper rail 40 and the stile 46, and the means to secure the guide 38 to the corner connector 48. No further description is believed to be necessary since the previous description is applicable.

The lower rail 42 and the left stile 44 are interconnected by a corner connector, not shown, in the same manner as the lower rail 42 and the right stile 46. Similarly, another guide, not shown, corresponding to the guide 38 is vertically adjustably mounted on the corner connector utilized to secure together the lower rail 42 and the left stile 44. Thus, a detailed description is not required.

It will be apparent that the various components of the frame 34 of the invention may be assembled readily with only simple, readily available tool-s, no special tools or equipment being required. Also, if the frame 34 is to be utilized with a panel 32 which is undersize, it is a simple matter to shorten the rails 49 and 42 and/or the stiles '44 and 46 correspondingly by sawing them to the correct lengths. If shortening of the stiles 44 and 46 is necessary, it is merely necessary to drill therein new holes corresponding to the hole 94. Thus, the frame 34 may be fitted to an undersize panel 32 easily on the job with readily available tools.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In combination: a stile and a rail disposed at right angles to form a corner having front and rear sides; a connector in said corner on the rear side thereof and secured to said stile and said rail, said connector hav ing two noncircular holes therethrough spaced apart in directions parallel to said stile; a track engaging memher on the rear side of said connector and movable re ative to said connector in directions parallel to said stile, said member having a slot therethrough which is parallel to said stile and which is in register with said holes; and means for securing said member to said connector, including nuts having noncircular portions complementary to and disposed in said holes, and including screws extending through said slot and threaded into said nuts.

2. In combination: a stile and a rail disposed at right angles to form a corner having front and rear sides, said rail having front, rear and intermediate rail flanges providing two oppositely facing, front and rear rail channels disposed side by side and separated by said intermediate rail flange, said front rail channel facing inwardly relative to said corner and being adapted to receive a panel edge therein and said rear rail channel facing outwardly relative to said corner, said stile providing a stile channel which faces inwardly relative to said corner and which is adapted to receive a panel edge therein; a connector in said corner on the rear side thereof and provided with a lug which is disposed in said rear rail channel and which is provided with a hole therethrough, a portion of said rear rail flange 'being struck into said hole to secure said connector to said rail; and means securing said connector to said stile.

3. In combination: a stile and a rail disposed at right angles to form a corner having front and rear sides, said stile being generally E-shaped and having front, rear and intermediate stile flanges providing front and rear stile channels disposed side by side and facing inwardly relative to said corner, said frant stile channel being adapted to receive a panel edge therein, said rail providing a rail channel which faces inwardly relative to said corner and which is adapted to receive a panel edge herein; a connector in said corner on the rear side thereof, said connector having a portion in said rear stile channel; securing means on the rear side of and accessible from the rear side of said corner for securing said connector to said rear stile flange; and means securing said connector to said rail.

4. In combination: a stile and a rail disposed at right angles to form a corner having from and rear sides, said stile being generally E-shaped and having front, rear and intermediate stile flanges providing front and rear stile channels disposed side by side and facing inwardly relative to said corner, said front stile channel being adapted to receive a panel edge therein, said rail providing a rail channel which faces inwardly relative to said corner and which is adapted to receive a panel edge therein; a connector in said corner on the rear side thereof, said connector having a portion in said rear stile channel; securing means on the rear side of and accessible from the rear side of said corner for securing said connector to said rear stile flange; said connector and said intermediate stile flange having interlocked portions Within said rear stile channel; and means securing said connector to said rail.

5. In combination: a stile and a rail disposed at right angles to form a corner having front and rear sides, said rail having front, rear and intermediate rail flanges providing two oppositely facing, front and rear rail channels disposed side by side and separated by said intermediate rail flange, said front rail channel facing inwardly relative to said corner and being adapted to receive a panel edge therein and said rear rail channel facing outwardly relative to said corner, said stile providing a stile channel which faces inwardly relative to said corner and which is adapted to receive a panel edge therein; a connector in said corner on the rear side thereof, said connector having a portion in said rear rail channel and secured to said rear rail flange; and means securing said connector to said stile.

6. In combination: a stile and a rail disposed at right angles to form a corner having front and rear sides, said rail having front, rear and intermediate rail flanges providing two oppositely facing, front and rear rail channels disposed side by side, said front rail channel facing inwardly relative to said corner and being adapted to receive a panel edge therein and said rear rail channel facing outwardly relative to said corner, said stile being generally E-shaped and having front, rear and intermediate stile flanges providing front and rear stile channels disposed side by side and facing inwardly relative to said corner, said front stile channel being adapted to receive a panel edge therein; and a connector in said corner on the rear side thereof, said connector having a portion in said rear rail channel and secured to said rear rail flange, and said connector having a portion in said rear stile channel and secured to said rear stile flange.

7. In combination: a stile and a rail disposed at right angles to form a corner having front and rear sides, said rail having front, rear and intermediate rail flanges providing two oppositely facing, front and rear rail channels disposed side by side, said front rail channel facing inwardly relative to said corner and being adapted to receive a panel edge therein and said rear rail channel facing outwardly relative to said corner, said stile being generally E-shaped and having front, rear and intermediate stile flanges providing front and rear stile channels disposed side by side and facing inwardly relative to said corner, said front stile channel being adapted to receive a panel edge therein; and a connector in said corner on the rear side thereof, said connector having a portion in said rear rail channel and secured to said rear rail flange, and said connector having a portion in said rear stile channel and secured to said rear stile flange, said connector and said intermediate stile flange having interlocked portions within said rear stile channel.

8. In combination: a stile and a rail disposed at right angles to form a corner having front and rear sides, said rail having front, rear and intermediate rail flanges providing two oppositely facing, front and rear rail channels disposed side by side, said front rail channel facing inwardly relative to said corner and being adapted to receive a panel edge therein and said rear rail channel facing outwardly relative to said comer, said stile being generally E-shaped and having front, rear and intermediate stile flanges providing front and rear stile channels disposed side by side and facing inwardly relative to said corner, said front stile channel being adapted to receive a panel edge therein; a connector in said corner on the rear side thereof, said connector having a portion in said rear rail channel and secured to said rear rail flange, and said connector having a portion in said rear stile channel and secured to said rear stile flange; a track engaging member on the rear side of said connector and movable relative to said connector in directions parallel to said stile; and means for securing said member to said connector.

9. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said portion of said connector which is disposed in said rear rail channel has a hole therethrough into which a portion of said rear rail flange is struck, and wherein said portion of said connector which is disposed in said rear stile channel is provided with a hole, a screw extending through said rear stile flange and being threaded into the hole last mentioned.

10. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said portion of said intermediate stile flange which is interlocked with said portion of said connector within said rear stile channel, comprises a lip on said intermediate stile flange which extends away from said front stile channel and which is disposed within said rear stile channel and which is inturned toward the closed side of said rear stile channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,821,674 Shapiro Sept. 1, 1931 2,610,367 Nordahl Sept. 16, 1952 2,619,205 Best et a1 Nov. 25, 1952 2,627,633 'Schectman Feb. 10, 1953 2,701,040 Wick Feb. 1, 1955 2,775,782 Boiu Jan. 1, 1957 2,784,445 Greig et al Mar. 12, 1957 2,804,952 Nothdurft Sept. 3, 1957 

